Dinette set



Feb. 15, 1949. w, c, D|ER|CKX 2,461,684

DINETTE SET Filed March 15, 1947 -2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR. WALTE R C. DIER ICKX,

I V ATTOR/Vf) Feb. 15, 1949. I w, c, DlERlCKX 2,461,684

DINETTE SET INVENTOR. WALTER C. DIERICKX Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE DINETTE SET Walter c. Dierickx, Lake Worth, Fla. Application March 15, 1947, Serial No. 735,038

Claims. 1 This invention relates to an improvement in articles of furniture and has particular reference to an article of furniture adapted to serve a dual purpose as an ornamental desk and as a full size table with its accompanying chairs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of furniture having several com-'- ponent parts that jointly serve, when in assembled position, to form a half circular desk of ornamental appearance and, when disassembled and extended, forming a full size table with a plurality of independently movable chairs.

Another object of the invention resides in a structure as above noted, wherein the component chairs form an uninterrupted curved rear wall for the simulated desk.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel arrangement of parts for creating an ornamental article of furniture, requiring a minimum of effort to rearrange the parts to provide a full size table, requires no separate space for storage of chairs, is highly efficient in use and cheap to manufacture.

Other important advantages of the invention will readily present themselves during the course of the following description, references being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture constructed in accordance with the invention, looking from the rear,

Figure 2 is a perspective view, looking from the front,

Figure 3 is a'plan view of the article with the parts in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a plan view with the parts in extended position,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section with the table top removed, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2,

Figure 7 is a similar view. with the chairs removed and the parts in extended position and,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the chairs.

Like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a table top as a whole, embodying a fixed section 6 and a movable section I, hinged along their straight edges as at 8. The sections 6 and 1 are formed of substantially half circles and, when in closed position, the section I is folded upon the section 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The sections 6 and I when in extended 2 position form a substantially complete circular table.

Means are provided to support the table at conventional height comprising a rear leg 9 and front legs Ill, fixed with respect to the section 6 and providing in effect a three point support. The legs H) are spaced apart along the straight edge of the section 6 and a box-like, knee hole opening is provided by panels ll, extending rearwardly from the legs In in parallelism and these panels II are connected by angularly arranged panels l2. The rear leg 9 is suitably braced with respect to the panels l2, by a horizontal brace [3, all connected in a manner well recognized in the manufacture of furniture and rigid with respect to the section 6. The knee hole is provided with a suitable drawer l4, slidably supported in a conventional manner and having its front flush with the straight edge of the sections 6 and 1 when in closed position.

, Since it becomes necessary to provide supporting members for the table section 1 when in extended position, panels I5 are provided. The panels I5 are hinged on one vertical edge to the legs III, as indicated at l6 and the panels are'of a width to extend to the full radius of the table when in closed position, lying parallel to the straight edge of the table and having the effect of a fixed front wall. Each panel l5 carries a short leg member [1. The panels are adapted to be swung outwardly as supporting means for the table section 1, as clearly indicated in Figures 4 and '7. Since the panels I5 serve a dual purpose, namely, as supports for the section 1 and as a closure front for the simulated desk, they have their front surfaces scored, embossed or otherwise marked, to simulate desk drawers, as indicated at l8. The simulated drawers may be provided with real or simulated drawer pulls.

The curved rear wall of the simulated desk illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and indicated as a whole by the numeral I9, is formed by a plurality of chairs 20, the back sections 2| of each chair being formed on the arc of the table sections 6 and, l and when placed in assembled position to form a desk, presents a complete curved wall carrying out the ornamental appearance of a fixed desk structure. In the present arrangement, four chairs have been provided for the wall closure and one for the use of a desk chair, all being wedge shaped, having seat portions 22 of wedge shape and supporting fioor engaging wedge shape portions 23, all secured to the curved back section 2|. The seat section 22 is preferably upholstered as indicated and an upholstered section for the back may be desirable, as indicated at 24. When the article is to be used as an ornamental desk, the four chairs are merely shoved under the table, jointly forming the rear wall and this arrangement serves both as the rear wall and as a storage place for the chairs when not in use.

In use, when the article of furniture is to be employed as an ornamental utility desk, the table top I is folded upon the top section 6, as in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The four chairs are arranged under the table, completing the back wall l9, while the panels i5 complete the front wall and, with the knee hole, gives the appearance of a half circular desk, the fifth chair being employed as a utility chair for the user. It is obvious of course, that all the chairs may be used as utility or occasional chairs when so desired. When the article is to be extended as a full size table, the panels it are swung forwardly on their hinges, as indicated, and provide leg supports for the table section I when it is swung to open position, as in Figure 4. The chairs may then be placed around the table in any convenient manner.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an extremely novel and ornamental article of furniture has been provided. The device may be merely adapted as a utility table or, may well adapt itself to small apartments that utilize a room as both dining and living room, in which case, the combination arrangement of table and desk is of inestimable value. The. dual use of the chairsas both a wall closure and as utility chairs greatly adds to the advantages of'the device. The article is strong, durable, cheap to manufacture and extremeiy easy to adjust to its dual purposes. Each of the chairs may have a hand engaging notch cut in its upper edge for convenience in removing the chairs from beneath the table. 1 It. is to be. understood that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fair- 1y come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having, described my invention, what I claim l. A combination table and desk comprising a table top formed by two semi circular sections hinged together along their straight edges, supporting legs fixed upon one table section, two of said legs spaced apart to provide a knee hole opening, panel members hinged to the spaced apart legs to form a simulated desk front and a plurality of chairs having solid transversely curved backs adapted to be arranged beneath the table with the vertical edges of their backs abutting and flush with the edge of the semi-circuiar table sections to form a semi-circular rear wall for the desk.

2. An article of furniture having a table top formed by two semi-circular-sections hinged together along their straight edges and adapted to V be folded one upon the other, supporting legs permanently attached to one of the table sections, two of said legs positioned flush with the straight edges of the table in spaced apart relation for forming a knee hole opening, a pair of panel sections hinged to the spaced apart legs and forming a simulated front wall for a desk, a plurality of chairs having solid transversely curved backs adapted to be arranged beneath the table with their backs in abutting relation and flush with the semi-circular edge of the table to form a rear closure wall, the backs of said chairs formed on an arc corresponding to the arc of the table, said panel sections-adapted tobe swung forwardly as supporting means forv one table top when extended.

3. An article of furniture of the character described for providing an extended table and a simulated desk when retracted, comprising a table top formed in two semi-circular sections hinged together along their straight edges with one section adapted to be folded upon the other, legs permanently attached to the underside of one table section to. provide a three point support, two of said legs arranged along the straight edge of the table in spaced apart relation for providing a knee hole opening,'a drawer slidable between the spaced apart legs, panel members hinged to the spaced apart legs for simulating a desk front, said panels being flush with and extending outward from the legs to terminate flush with the ends of the straight edge of the table, each panel having a simulated drawer design thereon, the panels adapted to swing forwardly for supporting the hinged table top in extended positioma plurality of wedge. shaped chairs having solid curved backs adapted to be arranged beneath the table with their backs in abutting relation and flush with the semi-circular edge of the table, the said back of each chair being formed on an arc corresponding to the arc ofthe table.

4. An article of furniture providing a table when in extended position and a desk when in retracted position, comprising a table top formed in two semi-circular sections. hinged together along their straight edges, supporting legs permanently attached to one of said sections, two of said legs arranged along the straight edge of the table in spaced apart relation, a drawer slideable between the last named legs, panel members hinged to the last named legs and lying flush with the straight edge of the table and extending outward to terminate flush with the ends of said edge, said panels. adapted to swing forwardly for supporting the hip ged table top in extended position, said panels scored to simulate desk drawers, a plurality of chairs having solid curved backs adapted to be arranged beneath the fixed table section with. their backs in abutting relation and flush with the edge of the table, said chairs having their seat portions and base formed wedge shape,'the backs of said chairs being formed 'upon an arc corresponding to the arc of the table, said chairs when in position beneath the table forming a continuous closure Wall around the arc of the table, said chairs being provided with handheld notches their back sections.

5. A dual purpose article of furniture comprising a pair of semi-circular table top sections hinged along their straight edges for folding one upon the other, supporting legs permanently attached to one of the sections to provide athree point support, two of said legs positioned along the straight edge of the top section in spaced apart relation to form a knee hole opening, wall sections beneath the table to form a rear closure for the knee. hole opening, brace means between the wall sections and the third leg, Vertically arranged panel sections hinged to the spaced apart legs and normally lying flush with the straight edge of the table and extending outward to terminate flush with the ends of the straight edges, said panel members scored to simulate drawers for the desk to be formed by the table, a drawer slidabie between the spaced apart legs, aplurality ofmovable chairs having solid curved backs adapted to be arranged beneath the table for forming a circular closure wall for the desk, said chairs having their backs formed upon an arc r 5 v 6 corresponding to the are of the table and when REFERENCES CITED m posltlon beneath the tabIe ha-Vmg their backs The following references are of record in the in abutting relation, the seats and bases of the w, 7 chairs formed wedge shape, the said backs being file of fins patent provided with hand-hold notches, the said panels UNITED STATES PATENTS being adapted to be swung forwardly upon their Number Name Date hinges as supporting means for the hinged table Des 12G Livon 12 1946 Section when in extended i182 e39 Bekesi Z1111; my 9' 191.6

WALTER DIERICKX. 10 FOREIGN PATENTS I Number Country Date 231,616 Great Britain Apr. 9, 1925 

